Southwest Egg Supply Shaken as Major Producer Shuts Down

Hickman’s Family Farms, the largest egg producer in the Southwest, is grappling with a devastating crisis that has forced a partial shutdown of its operations. The farm, based in Arizona, has lost around 6 million chickens, 95 percent of its flock, forcing layoffs and halting its longstanding inmate rehabilitation program.

“Our hens began showing symptoms on May 15 and were confirmed the next day,” CEO Glenn Hickman said at a recent news conference. Despite containment efforts, the issue...